China to scrap COVID-19 quarantine rule for inbound travellers

China will not subject inbound travelers to quarantine from Jan. 8, putting the country on track to emerge from global isolation under a Covid Zero policy that battered the world’s second-largest economy.

People arriving in China will only be required to obtain negative Covid test results within 48 hours of departure, the National Health Commission (NHC) said in a statement. That compares with the current requirement of eight days isolation, including five days at a designated quarantine hotel or central facility, followed by three days at home.

The government will facilitate visa applications for foreigners who need to travel to China.

Current limits on the number of international flights between China and the rest of the world and passenger capacity will also be removed.

NHC will continue to monitor the virus’s spread and vowed to take appropriate measures to suppress the peak of Covid outbreaks.

China will enhance the treatment of severe patients by boosting the supply of life-saving medical devices, such as ventilators, and the capacity of intensive care units, NHC added.